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Jesus Maria y Jose, Mexican Retablos

Jesus Maria y Jose, Mexican Retablos - Retable
Accession #: COOK.1979.38
Title: Jesus Maria y Jose, Mexican Retablos
Object Type: Retable
Participants:
Physical Description: The retablo depicts four figures (Mary, Jesus, and Joseph, with God above) on a blue background. The man and the woman have circular halos and both are holding the arm of the child, the man is holding a staff with four red flowers. The figure above their heads, in the clouds, has a triangular halo, there is a dove in front of him with rays going down; the figure is bearded and is raising his proper right hand.
Description: This retablo, depicting Mary, Joseph, Jesus and an angel, represents traditional religious beliefs of Mexican culture after European colonization. A "retablo" is a small oil painting, usually on tin, displayed in a home altar to honor Catholic Saints. Most popular in the latter half of the 19th century, this form of folk art is "a hybrid of centuries old Catholic iconography and indigenous artistry; reflecting the historical, cultural and religious links between 'old' and 'new' worlds." Since World War II, the Hispanic culture represents the fastest-growing diversity population in the Inland Northwest. Immigration from Mexico began in the 1970s and expanded rapidly during the U.S. government's Bracero program that recruited Mexican farm workers during World War II. Labor intensive agriculture grew in the Yakima Valley and with the Columbia Basin Project (irrigation) in the 1950s. Establishing their own communities, churches, businesses, organizations and cultural celebrations, Hispanic and Latino cultures have become an important regional force in both agricultural and non-agricultural businesses. Sources: "Mexican Retablo Art." Colonial Arts. http://www.mexicanretablos.com/mexican_retablos_history.php. Maldonado, Carlos S., Ph.D. "Nuestro Viaje al Norte: The Latino Demographic Presence in the Inland Northwest," in The Inland Northwest: A Modern History of a Dynamic Region, Kay F.Reinartz. Carlsbad: Heritage Media Corp., 2002.
Category: Mesoamerica
Subjects/Topics/Concepts:
Religious (Communication->Ceremonial)
Geographical Reference: Mexico (International->North America)
Dimensions:
height 10"
width 7"
Materials/Techniques:
oil paint (paint) ( -> ->coating (material)->paint) (Material)
tin (metal) ( -> -> ->metal) (Material)
Marks/Inscription:
Jesus Maria y Jose
Related Exhibits:
Credit Line: Museum of Native American Cultures Transfer, 1992, Gift of Larry Cook

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